Patients often have trouble with both function and aesthetics when tooth structure is hidden beyond the gum line and require specific periodontal intervention. We do crown lengthening procedures that reshape gum tissue and sometimes even bone to show more of the actual tooth structure. This sets the stage for successful restorative work and makes your smile look better overall.
Crown lengthening can serve several purposes depending on your dental needs and treatment goals. We often recommend this procedure when there isn’t enough tooth structure above the gum line to support a crown or filling. Teeth that have fractured below the gum line or have a lot of decay may need crown lengthening before any restorative work can be done.
Patients with a gummy smile look great after crown lengthening. We help people in North York get better proportions between their teeth and gums by removing extra gum tissue that covers too much of the tooth surface. This procedure shows more of the natural tooth structure which makes the smile more symmetrical and beautiful and improves the whole face.
To prepare for crown lengthening, the areas to be treated must be carefully examined and measured. Toronto North Periodontics uses state of the art imaging and surgery planning to get the best results while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible. We look at how your teeth, gums and underlying bone structure are connected to figure out how much tissue to remove.
The surgery starts with local anesthesia to make you comfortable throughout the process. We make small incisions in the gum tissue to get to the areas that need to be reshaped while keeping the natural shape of your gums. Sometimes small changes to the bone are needed to get the teeth to show and make the gum margins around the treated teeth stable.
When you follow our post-operative instructions properly, healing after crown lengthening is usually smooth. We give you clear instructions on how to change your dental hygiene, what foods you can’t eat and what activities you can’t do to help you heal as fast as possible. The first stage of healing takes about 2 weeks but it may take several months for the tissue to fully mature.After crown lengthening, pain management includes taking prescribed medications and following certain comfort measures to help ease the pain during recovery. We make sure patients know when and how much medicine to take and we give them emergency contact information in case they have any questions that come up outside of regular office hours. Most people can manage the pain and see a big difference in the first few days.
The timeframe for restorative work after crown lengthening depends on how long the procedure takes and how well the person heals. We usually recommend waiting at least 6-8 weeks before putting in permanent crowns or other restorations. This gives the gums time to fully recover and settle down. This wait time ensures that your final restorations will have the best margins and last longer.
To keep the effects of crown lengthening for a long time, you need to take good care of your teeth and see a dentist often. We help patients find the best way to clean their teeth that will keep the newly shaped gum lines safe and prevent future gum disease. We can monitor how you’re healing and address any problems right away during regular follow-up appointments.
When the right surgical techniques and post-operative care protocols are followed, crown lengthening has a high success rate. We look at each situation to make sure you have realistic expectations and explain how the procedure will make your teeth look and work better.
For patients who need full dental care, we work with various specialists including those who do Endodontics to make sure all of your oral health needs get the right attention and are done in the right order.
Crown lengthening is an investment that pays off in the long run not just for the current treatment needs. We still help patients in North York recover from their crown lengthening while also helping them improve their oral health, make their smile look better and get long term restorative results that restore function and confidence in their dental health.
